Melrose Karminty Urges ECOWAS Parliamentarians to Prioritise Street Children’s Protection.

Melrose Karminty, Minister of Social Welfare, delivered a goodwill message before a joint committee of ECOWAS parliamentarians. Delegates represented Social Welfare, Gender, Women Empowerment & Persons with Disabilities, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Trade, Customs and Free Movement, Political Affairs, Peace, Security, and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

This delocalised sitting examined “Parliamentary Approaches to Safeguarding Children in Street Situations and Addressing Child Exploitation in the ECOWAS Region.” Karminty expressed honour in hosting the gathering, noting that street-connected youngsters rank among society’s most vulnerable. Exposure to violence, deprivation, and exploitation confronts these minors daily. Their plight extends beyond humanitarian concern it challenges collective commitments to human rights, social justice, and sustainable development.

Sierra Leone’s national progress featured prominently. “We have taken significant steps to strengthen child protection,” Karminty said. Adoption of the revised Child Rights Act (2025) aligns domestic law with international and African standards. Operationalising these reforms demands stronger institutional coordination, enhanced social welfare delivery, community-based initiatives, and robust data systems guiding evidence-based policymaking.

Beyond legislative shifts, the Ministry established rehabilitation centres for drug and substance abuse victims, including juveniles. These facilities provide psychosocial support alongside reintegration pathways. Two new directorates Family Welfare, plus Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services bolster institutional responses to family welfare challenges. Positive Parenting Education Program pilots training for parents, teachers, health workers, and social workers to build stronger family and community support systems. Enactment of the Social Workers Regulatory Act, coupled with the creation of the Social Workers Regulatory Council, introduces professional accountability standards in social service delivery.

The Minister acknowledged shared struggle across ECOWAS. Vulnerabilities of street-based youth transcend borders, demanding harmonised legislative approaches, coordinated institutional responses, and enhanced parliamentary oversight. Regional solidarity alone can translate commitments into tangible safeguards.

“Let us reaffirm collective responsibility to protect every child’s rights and dignity,” Karminty urged. “Let us commit to building stronger prevention, protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration systems. Let us ensure children’s voices and needs remain central to policies and programmes.”

Correspondent: Joel Foday Dumbuya, Ministry of Social Welfare

Tel: +232 88 296029